Youth Practitioner

Dorset is committed to creating environments for our children and young people to thrive. This is an exciting opportunity to join our new service as a Youth Practitioner, zero hours contract, based in the Wimborne area providing care and support to children and young people initially in a short break setting working within a small staff team and in the future, additionally providing much needed outreach support to children and families in their own homes.

The priorities for our Dorset children are; that they stay in Dorset, which is the best place for them to live, that they are given the best start in life through good care provision and the best education and training opportunities, which enable them to thrive and be the best they can be.

The role of youth practitioner is to ensure a safe and nurturing environment in which children and young people with disabilities are supported to reach their potential.

We are aspirational for our staff team as well as our children and you will be joining a supportive and inclusive council who will provide nurture and invest in you to enable you to thrive in your job. Dorset has a comprehensive training programme which supports your professional growth and development

**What you can expect to be doing**
- You will be passionate and aspirational in supporting young people, share our core values and celebrate differences.

You will support young people with their day to day lives, activities and promote community participation and social inclusion, as well as helping children develop life skills.

You will be a naturally caring person who can form and maintain positive relationships with our children, young people and families, as well as partner agencies and allocated social workers who form a team around the child.

You will be ambitious for our children, creative and passion to ensure children and young people who are disabled are supported to achieve the best outcomes and provide them with the opportunities to flourish.

**Skills and qualities **we appreciate**
- You will be a kind and caring person with a passion for improving lives, be ambitious for our children and flexible and creative in approach.

You will be able to work independently and as part of a team and are flexible in the approach so we can creatively individually support to each child, as well as work together to find solutions.

You must also have some experience working with children and families.

You must be able to work evenings, weekends and bank holidays as part of your role and a minimum of one shift per week.

You must also hold, or be happy to work towards the Level 3 Diploma for Residential Childcare, to be completed within two years of employment.

This is a full time role at 37 hours per week.

This post requires significant travel. You must have a vehicle (or transport we deem suitable) available for use as needed.

See our policy on safeguarding children and young people.